Nagpur: The district’s education department on Tuesday released school holiday schedule for calendar year 2021 and warned of “strict action” against school/s found flouting it.
This decision is a fallout of a 2019 incident in which a CBSE school flouted the holiday schedule, mandated under divisional commissioner’s jurisdiction, and called up all students. Unfortunately, it rained heavily that day leading to flooding around the school campus and kids being stuck. The school’s decision drew sharp reactions in the department asking the school management that why the school was opened on holiday and filing a police complaint.
District education officer Chintaman Vanjari said, “This year, the education department gets to ensure that there’s no repeat of repeat of the 2019 incident. Any school flouting the schedule will face action.” The mandatory holiday schedule is accompanied by a circular by Vanjari, which makes it clear that schools can open only from June 26 onwards after summer vacation.
Vanjari said. “Maharashtra government’s rules permit Vidarbha schools to reopen later than the rest due to our extended summers. Some schools start early by June 15 or so, which is not allowed as per existing rules.” This issue comes up specifically for CBSE schools, many of whom start schools between June 15 to 23. But with the education department demanding strict compliance this year, it’s unlikely that anyone will take that risk.
For CBSE schools, there is another problem as their new academic session starts from April. Students who enter Std X in 2021-22 academic session, will start classes from April, which go on till first week of May. A CBSE school principal said, “If our academic session is to start from June then effectively we will lose about 30 days of precious teaching time.”
Education officer Vanjari clarified that this holiday schedule does not stop CBSE schools from doing that. “If you see the holiday schedule, it’s clearly mentioned that summer vacations are scheduled from May 17-June 25. So they can continue any academic activity till mid-May. The department has no intention of interfering in other board’s academic plan. Our only concern is that the holiday schedule must be followed completely,” said Vanjari.
The next thorny issue between CBSE schools and the state education department is of local holidays. These local holidays are indigenous to Nagpur or Vidarbha and many CBSE schools used to ignore these earlier. The reason put forward by schools was that the children in their school hardly demand a holiday on those days. Vanjari said, “The law is very clear on this. Local holidays are mandatory for all schools under that particular jurisdiction, hence no excuses will be entertained.”
Mandatory Holidays schedule for all Nagpur district schools
Categories of holidays------------------------------------------------------- No of days
Maharashtra state gazetted holidays-----------------------------------------22
Holidays declared under Divisional Commissioner’s authority-------------3
Holidays declared under district education officer’s authority------------ 1
Holidays declared under school headmaster’s authority------------------- 1
Local holidays---------------------------------------------------------------------4
Summer vacation---------------------------------------------------------------35
Diwali Vacation-----------------------------------------------------------------10
Total permissible holidays-----------------------------------------------76
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Month with maximum holidays: November (18 holidays including Sundays)
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Details of holidays specific to Nagpur district (excluding 22 gazetted holidays)
Holidays declared under Nagpur Divisional Commissioner’s authority:
September 13: Mahalaxmi Pujan
October 6: Pitrumoksha Amavasya
October 14: Dhammachakra Pravartan
Holidays declared under district education officer’s authority:
January 14: Makar Sankranti
Local Holidays for Nagpur schools:
August 13: Nagpanchmi
August 31: Gopal Kala
September 7: Tanha Pola
October 7: Ghatsthapna
Headmaster’s quota holiday
Any one day at principal’s discretion
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Vacation schedule:
May 17 - June 26: Summer Vacation
November 1-13: Diwali Vacation
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Holiday killers: Holidays on Sunday
April 25: Mahavir Jayanti
August 15: Independence Day